NL WILD CARD SERIES: MARLINS VS PHILLIES

October 4, 2023

Jose Alvarado

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Jose, I'm wondering if -- you went on the injured list twice this season, and I'm wondering, with the same injury, and I'm wondering if there's a time during the season in which you were worried or wondered if you were going to be able to get back or if the elbow was going to be a big problem?

JOSE ALVARADO: Yeah, I know it's too hard for me, for my teammates too because they need me all the time. Like that's baseball. That's baseball. That's the game.

I'm very happy to stay healthy and give the help to my teammates. You know like right now I feel like strong. I feel good. My body is in shape. I'm so happy.

Q. How has the cutter evolved?

JOSE ALVARADO: I feel I'm the same pitcher. I'm still trying to hit the target the same. Strike 1, Strike 2, and good luck. That's basically my mindset when I go face hitters.

The approach of the hitter is always to make adjustments, and it's the same for me. As a pitcher, I always have to make adjustments too.

Q. How special is it to hear the chants of Jose, Jose, Jose from the crowd?

JOSE ALVARADO: It's obviously very special. It motivates me. This is not something that I just got out of a cereal box. This respect and love from the fans, I've earned.

Even last year when I was sent down, it was a tough time, but it's not really how you start, it's how you finish. It's real important to me, and I feel very proud of myself for having the respect and the love from the fans. They show it every night, and it's obviously an extra boost that we get every single time we get on the mound.

Q. He talked to Wheeler yesterday, and Wheeler said for him it doesn't matter whether it's a Spring Training game, a regular season game, for a postseason game, his preparation is always the same. Nothing changes. So has something changed for you? Would you do something different?

JOSE ALVARADO: No. The key is to have a good night's sleep. Go about my business the same way I do it. Go through my routine the same way I do it.

I need to run, though. I love running poles. I feel like, if I don't do that, then I'm wasting my day. It doesn't matter if I pitch or not, if I run, then I feel I'm doing what I'm supposed to do.

Q. Jose, do you think anybody gets more excited than you when you strike out a batter to end an inning on this team?

JOSE ALVARADO: Yeah, for sure, the fans.

(Laughter).

Q. Do you ever like see a replay of what you do? Because it seems like every time it's different. Are you like, oh, my gosh, I did that in the moment?

JOSE ALVARADO: Yeah, every time I watch my reaction after a strikeout. I say to myself, like I need to stop this movement because sometimes I do like a crazy movement, and the next day I feel like my body is a little sore.

(Laughter).

You know, the reaction, the energy the fans bring to everybody here in the stadium.

Q. Does anything else in life get you more excited than that? Outside of baseball, do you ever get that fired up about anything at all?

JOSE ALVARADO: Last night after the game, I go home, like my mom is calling me, talking a lot and crying because she's missed last year the World Series, and this year I try to bring my mom to the United States, and the United States say I can't give the Visa to your mom. It's like so hard for me.

I control this moment because nobody here know my situation right now with my family. You know like I'm here to stay humble, stay ready for compete, and let's do the game?

Q. So you tried to bring your mom, and she can't come?

JOSE ALVARADO: I've got my mom in Venezuela, my younger sister, and my two kids.

Q. And they can't come?

JOSE ALVARADO: Uh-huh.

Q. Any chance before the postseason they'll get here?

JOSE ALVARADO: I tried so hard.

Q. They watch you on TV?

JOSE ALVARADO: Yeah.

Q. How hard is that for you?

JOSE ALVARADO: So hard, man.